The WFI vs wrestlers fiasco has taken an unprecedented turn, as hundreds of young grapplers staged a protest against Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik on Wednesday at the Jantar Mantar. The younger lot demanded for action against the ‘protesting trio’ for ‘for hampering the progress of wrestling in India’.
It is important to note that these young wrestlers have suffered greatly due to the protests, and didn’t get a chance to compete in any national tournament throughout the year, owing the trios protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
The performances too took a dip internationally, as Indian grapplers could not even win a single gold at the Asian Games, while just one bronze came our way at the World Championships.
The wrestlers, carried placards reading, ‘UWW save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers’.
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The wrestlers also demanded that the WFI be restored soon, so that wrestling activities in the country could start again in the all-important Olympic year. So far, India has managed to get one quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
All this drama has persisted despite the elections taking place on December 21, where Sanjay Singh won. Bajrang, Sakshi & Vinesh had raised concerns over his election too, but later the WFI was suspended by the IOA.
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